Electrolytic water correction device



Oct. 12, 1948. y E. M. BUTLER 2,451,066 I ELECTROLYTIC WATER CORRECTION DEVICE Filed July 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

. EDGAR /7. BuT/ ER.

.HZZys.

Oct. 12, 1948. E. M. BUTLER 2,451,066

ELECTROLYTIC WATER CORRECTION DEVICE Filed July 25. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

w g/W Y EDGAR /"l. BUTLER.

Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs ELECTROLYTIC: WATER CORRECTION D CE Edga iufl ew Or e s.

Application July 25, 1946, Serial No. 685,133

3 Claim (Cl. cos-24s) This invention relates to an electrolytic water correction device, and more Pa ticularlyto a self-.- energizing electrolytic device for use water boilers for reducing or eliminating the formation of a hard scale on the boiler surfaces.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my application entitled Sch-energizing electrolytic water correction devices, Serial No. 618,114, filed September 24, 1945,. There is described in that application a device comprism bars constituting the anodes and formed of a negative metal or alloy, and clamps for said bars comprising saddle blocks, iace plates and tie bolts, all formed of a positive element or having a positive element outer surface and constituting the cathode of the galvanic cell. In a modification of the invention described in the earlier application, the anode bars are partially sheathed in copper jackets that tightly fit a substantial inter mediate portion of the bars to leave the ends thereof exposed.

The function of such sheaths, or jackets, is to provide adequate continuous electrical contact between the anode cartridge, or bar, and the cathode during the entire life of the cartridge; to prevent chunks of solid cartridge metal from falling into the boiler due to decomposition during use; and to facilitate the removal of the expended cartridge and the reuse of the cathode clamp assembly without necessitating diflicult cleaning operations on the surfaces of the clamp assembly that would normally contact the oathode cartridges except for such sheaths, or J'hqkets. While performing the foregoing functions satisfactorily, the construction shown in my earlier application neverthelsess had some drawbacks when used under certain boiler conditions. Forinstan ce, at boiler pressures of less than around 100 pounds per square inch, the area of the anode cartridge initially exposed beyond the ends of the sheathing is so small that decomposition of the metal of the anode does not take place rapidly enough to produce efiective concentration of the anode metal ions in the boiler. At higher boiler pressures, this diificulty is avoided because the rapid expansion of the cartridge brought about by its decomposition during use splits the sheath back from each end to a point where fur! ther expansion of the cartridge is prevented on account of the pressure there exerted by the clamping blocks. Such splitting of the sheath increases the amount of anode surface exposed to the electrolytic action of the water of the boiler. Furthermore, after the sheath has been split in this way, the ends of the sheath themselves be come cathode surfaces closely opposed to the cartridg surface, thereby producing a relat vely heavy c r t low over h ad t nal y xposed area'wi h c nse n pi decomp siti o the cartridge.

I have found that in the case of the sheathed ca t idge nst uc n o my a l applica io there are several conditions which, if present, may render devices of that construction inefiec-r t re to rev n th orm ion, o a hard s a o boile sur c s- Th conditions o ud an r erai ne boiler r ssur of e ow 0 nds P r squa e i h. unusual y o o e a n o di solv d sa ts (e tro y n h oi r water, nd. the presence of p ifi s s nce a d sit on th un t. and in u te efor s nt act on has occu d. to ing about he p p tation o such substa ces as a. slud e- An exa e t s latter is a water containing grams per gallon or over of ma es um. .suliat (MeSQ nd lil grams per gallon or over of S192 present as sodium silicate, plus sufficient acid iorrning compounds to give a pH of about 5,. such a water causes a deposition of an insulating coating over the unit that pr vents the d si ed e e ol t action.

The electrolytic water correction device of, my present invention is so designed and constructed as to be capable of effective operation right from the start when used in boilers operating at pressures either above or below about 100 pounds Per square inch, although at very much higher boiler pressures the present device has no substant al advantages over the device of my earlier application. By virtue of the construction of my present device, the area of -metalto-metal between the anode and cathode contacting surfaces is that necessary for proper operation; the area of exposed cartridgc in contact with the cathode is that necessary for proper operation; there is a sufficient total exposed cartridge area for effective a t and ther is a su i en area f o ho e s e c os y ppos d but ot in contac with the exposed anode surface to assist in the initial activati n of th cartri ge an in rease the ei- I fioicncy of e van c ac i n se u ho e o ditions are satisfied regardless of whether or not expansion of the cartridge occurs, as explained above in the case of the device ofmy earlier application.

The manner in which these objects are accom: plished will hereinafter be described in roater detail. Briefly, the unit of my present invention includes a long bottom sheath running almost to the full length of the cartridge and in surface upon immersion of the unit in the boiler water as a closely opposed cathode area over an additional exposed cartridge area, thus initiating activation of the cartridge rightfrom the start.

Even if the expansion of the cartridgeinuse detion to provide a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device in which the anode metal is enclosed in sheaths of acathode metal, so arranged andconstructed as to prevent the separation of portions of the anode metal while at the same time initially exposing a sufiicient area of the anode metal to render the unitself-activating from the start of its operation, even where boiler pressures lower than 100 pounds per square inch are employed.

- Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings. 1

stroys all direct contact between the cathode sheaths and the cartridge except that held in pressure contact by the clamping blocks, there is On the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a unit assembly embodying the principles of my invention.

suificient contact area maintained at the points cation. Furthermore, since the present unit bev 7 comes immediately activated upon immersion and heating, the decomposition products that form will be initially dispersed rapidly enough to precipitate certain hardness salts beforethese salts can insulate and render the unit inactive. The design of my present'unit is such that almost the entire exposed cartridge surface is active, thereby reducing to a negligible quantity the danger of a large chunk being decomposed locally and dropping into the boiler. In the event that the center of the cartridge were in a particular installation to become separated as asolid block,

such block would still be supported by the lower 7 sheath and could not fall into the boiler to cause damage. From the standpoint of providing for ease of removal of expended cartridges and eliminating the necessity for cleaning the clampingblocks, the sheaths of my present unit operate in exactly the same manner as those described'in my pending application. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a construction that does not: depend upon cartridge expansion to bring the unit to its full eificiency and that will operate in systems Where, for any of the various reasons outlined above, proper expansion of the cartridges in the construction of my earlier unit would not occur sufiiciently rapidly to activate the unit. 7

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an electrolytic water correction device of improved construction, capable of operating eificiently in steam boilers and hot water boilers where boiler pressures of under about 100 pounds per square inch and corresponding temperatures are employed. 7

It is a further important object of this'invention to provide an electrolytic water correction device of such construction'and so arranged as to make the operation of the device independent of the extent of expansion of the anode-metal dur ing operation, whereby the device is. selfenergizing under conditions as to pressure andternperature that result in little or no expansion of the metal of the anode. r

It'i's 'a further important object of this inven- Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Il1-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an isometric, exploded elevational view of the cartridge and sheath structures of my invention. e

As shown on the drawings: V

The reference numeral I0 indicates generally the self-energizing electrolytic water correction unit embodying the principles of my invention. Said unit comprises apair of side plates II and I 2 that are adapted to be held togetherby means of tie bolts l3 having their head ends received in counter sunk recesses M in the side plate I I and havingtheirthreaded ends I5 extending freely through the side plate I 2 for. receiving nuts 16. As -illustrated,"there are four such tie bolts I3, but it will be understood that a larger or smaller number of-tie bolts may be employed depending upon the size of theunit.

Each of the end plates I I and I2 may suitably be made of a copper or copper alloy casting, and r as electropositive as copper, but a ferrousfoundation metal may be used and the ferrous foundation metal thencopper or silver plated. Each of the tively,the apertures I9 of which are aligned for receiving a member (not shown) for securing the unit to boiler tubes, or other part of a boilerr V e As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the end plates II and I2 are formed with inwardly directed, opposed core supporting abutments 20 and 2| of identical construction. The abutment Zll'is provided with inclinedsurfaces 22 and 22a lying at to each other and interrupted at their line of convergence by a slot 23 passing completely Each of said'clamping members 2'! and 28 may be formed of .a cast copper metal, "or copper alloy,

and then silver plated, thesame as the end'plates II and I2. I The clamping members 21 and 28 are provided with slotted ends 29 and 30, respectively, for mounting upon the tie bolts,l3 for adjustable positioning thereon. Theiclamping member 21.. has an abutment 3|, which when the unit is as sembled, lies in opposed relationship to the abutment 2| and has inclined plane. surfaces 32, and

32a. lying at right anglescto each other and parallel, respectively, to the surfaces 24a and 24. A slot 33 is provided at the line of convergence of the surfaces 32 and 32a.

Similarly, the clamping member 28 is provided with an abutment 34- adapted to be positioned in opposed relationship to the abutment 29 and provided with inclined plane surfaces 35 and 35a lying at right angles to each other and parallel, respectively, to the plane surfaces 22 and 22a. A slot 36 extends along the line of convergence of the inclined surfaces 35 and 35a.

The frame comprising the end plates 1 l and I2, clamping members 21 and 23, and tie bolts [3 and nuts [6 serve as a clamping assembly for sheathed anodes 31 and 38. As illustrated, each of said anodes comprises an elongated bar of square or rectangular cross section and may be formed of zinc; aluminum or magnesium, or any suitable alloy of any of these metals that is at least as electronegative as zinc itself. Preferably, each of the bars or cartridges is formed of zinc produced either by a rolling or extrusion process and of comparatively high density.

Referring to the bar, or cartridge, 31 illustrated in Figure 4, it will be seen that there are provided a pair of sheaths, comprising a lower sheath 39 and an upper sheath 40, each of a length slightly less than the length of the bar 31 to leave the ends thereof exposed as at 31a and 31b. The lower sheath 39 may be suitably be formed of annealed bronze or shim stock, bent to a right angular form to fit convergent faces of the bar 31 to lie in close contact therewith The upper sheath 48 may likewise be formed of annealed bronze, or other suitable positive metal or alloy, bent to conform at its ends, as at 48a and 40b, to the corresponding adjacent surfaces of the bar 31, but provided with an outwardly expanded and slotted intermediate portion 4|. Said expanded intermediate portion 4! comprises offset lengths Ma and Nb, which lie parallel to and closely spaced from the corresponding surfaces of the bar 31 and that are themselves spaced along their adjacent edges to provide a slot 42. The offset intermediate portions Ma and 4 lb thus establish upwardly extending passages 43 and 44 (Fig. 3) opening upwardly through the slot 42. The contsruction of the sheaths for the cartridge 38 is identical and therefore need not be further described In assembling the unit, the sheathed cartridge, or electrode, 38, is first placed in position to lie against the inclined plane faces of the abutment 20, and then the clamping member 28 is slipped into position with the inclined faces of the abutment at pressing against the sheather electrode. Next, the clamping member 21 is positioned in back-to-back relationship to the clamping member 28, the sheathed electrode 31 is positioned in place against the inclined faces of the abutment 3|, and the end plate l2 threaded over the ends of the tie bolts [3. The nuts 16 are next threaded home on the threaded projected ends of the tie bolts I3 to hold the unit in tightly assembled relationship, with the conforming end portions of the sheaths in pressure contact with the bars, or cartridges 3] and 38. A quite considerable pressure is set up by tightening the nuts 16. Owing to the rather massive construction of the abutments 2!, 3!, 34 and 23, a very considerable Pressure can be exerted to hold the sheathed ends of the electrodes in good electrical contact despite any tendency of the boiler water to corrode and insulate the contacting surfaces.

In use, the unit is mounted upon the boiler tubes, or in any other suitable position within the boiler, fully submerged in the water of the boiler. Since the unit is preferably placed in the boiler as shown in the drawings, the intermediate spaced portions of the upper sheaths 40 provide upwardly extending passages 43 and 44 converging in the upper slot 42 for both water and steam, thereby exposing a larger area of the electrodes to the electrolytic action of the boiler water. The lower sheaths 39 serve to deflect the rising bubbles of steam to either side. so that the upper surfaces of the electrodes are exposed to hot water only. A major portion, therefore, of the electrolytic activity of the unit is due to the exposed upper surfaces of the electrodes and the closely spaced relationship of the offset sheathed portions Ma and MI). Since the sheaths are made of bronze or other positive metal, or alloy, they form a part of the total cathode, along with the end plates II and I2, clamping members 21 and 28 and tie bolts l3.

The end plates H and 12 are apertured, as at 45 (Fig. 2) to insure a relatively free flow of water through the unit. The slots 23 and 25 and 33 and 36, also serve to reduce the amount of resistance to the passage of Water through and over the assembly. It will be noted that the corner edges, as at 46 and 41 (Fig. 3), of the electrodes 31 and 38 are exposed in the slots or grooves 25, 33, and 23, 36, so as to insure the activity of the electrodes at those additional areas. The result is that the area of the anode electrode exposed to the action of the electrolyte can be sufficiently large without the necessity of exposing large end areas, thereby obviating the necessity of exposing large end areas with the accompanying danger of the ends being eaten away and dropping off into the boiler. The construction of the unit illustrated insures efficient operation of the unit from the start, regardless of whether expansion of the anode element occurs, or not. The unit will therefore operate at pressures and/or concentrations too low to activate a unit such as described in my copending application, above referred to.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrolytic water correction device for use in water boilers, comprising a bar of rectangular cross-section formed of a negative metal, a two-part sheath of a positive metal, each part enclosing a pair of adjoining sides of said bar, one of said sheath parts conforming to and in surface contact with a substantial intermediate portion of said bar and the other of said sheath parts having end portions conforming to and in surface contact with said bar adjacent the ends thereof and having offset portions intermediate said end portions spaced from and parallel to corresponding intermediate bar surfaces, both of said sheath parts terminating short of the ends of said bar to expose the ends thereof to electrolytic action, and clamping means holding contacting portions of said sheath parts and bar in a pressure contact relationship.

2. An electrolytic water correction device for use in water boilers, comprising a bar of rectangular cross-section formed of a negative metal, a twopart sheath of relatively thin metal sheet formed of a positive metal, one part conformingly fitting against a substantial intermediate length of said bar to enclose two adjoining sides thereof, the second part having end portions conformingly fitting said bar enclosing the other two adjoining sides of said bar but offset intermediate said end portions to lie in parallel, closely spaced relationmama-e shi'pz'to: corresponding: intermediate portions of said same-two bar sides, said parallel offset sheath portions: and. intermediate bar. surfaces provide ingf. elongated-1 passages; therebetween" for Water, anck clamps having gseatings faces bearing against thepoute-r surfaces of saidsheath parts to. urge conforming portions of; said-sheath parts and said barxinto tight'surface engagement.

3. An; electrolytic water correction device for use in steam boilers, comprising: an elongated bar of: rectangular cross-sectioniormed of a negative metal-Jami adapted: to be: positioned horizontally irrthe waterof 1a boiler, atwo-part sheathjof'relatimelysthin metal she'etformed ofa positivemetal, onespart': conforming to and fitting against asubstantiallintermediate:length of said bar 130131161056 two adjacent lower-sides thereof, the second-part havingt end portions: conforming, to: and fitting againstztwoadjacent uppersides of-said-bar but ofisetfrom saidupper-two sides intermediate said endiportions tolie in parallel closelyspaced relationshiptothe intermediate nortion of-said-same uppergtwozsides the-space defined by said ofiset portion: and 'said;barsurfaces providing elongated water-and steam passagesiland clamping means for holding fitting; portions? of-v said-:sheath-lparts and bar. in a pressure contact-relationship; said means including clamping; elements having V- shaped L-seatin'g -faoesadapted:to,;be:seated, against sides of: said baradjacent-t each -.end-; thereof 7 and bearing against" each"; of; said/ sheath. parts to maintainthe-sheath -parts in position on said bar, and: bolt meansucormeeting"v saidclamping; ele-'- ments to maintainisaid elements in. positiom;

' EDGAR M.. BUTLER-l,

REFERENCES CITED The-following references are of record in the file of tliis'patentt g g UNITEDSTATESIPATENTSM Daw' 

